Adam’s Cerebral Spillage

See that big bright thing outside? That’s the sun that is! It’s been out and about for the last few days now and it’s about time too. Spring is actually here now, I’m sure of it. I’ve had a load of daffodils in the living room brightening things up for the last week and there’s nothing more spring-like than a big vase of bright yellow daffs. The best thing is that it’s so warm too; there’s been some sunshine over winter but it’s never been warm enough to sit outside in a t-shirt in and enjoy. I tried doing just that over the weekend but this cold is still lingering and I’m doing my damnedest to stop it turning into a chest infection.

It’d be nice to be able to say the extension is going up as quickly as the grass in the front garden, but in truth progress has been slow. This is mostly through no fault of the builders, it’s Building Controls  who are holding things up. They seem to change their mind as to what they want as often as they change their socks, so most of the time at the moment is spent waiting around for them to come back and tell the builders they can actually do some work again. On the plus side, there’s no more hole digging. The foundations are in, the sewerage pipes encased and blockwork has started to go up. ‘Going up’ is entirely relative at the moment though, as they’re still below what will be ground level, but up is up and I’m happy. All that’s left for us to do now is to order the flooring for the house and trundle back up to Bristol to pick up the kitchen. I’m still hopeful that by my birthday we’ll actually have a house to put it all in.

Extension Progress

Our Tang Soo Do club held the first grading of the new year on Sunday, and while I wasn’t grading I still turned up and pulled my  dobok on in support. I was really glad to not be grading thanks to being ill, but I still did my bit by helping out with some il soo sik dae ryun and ho sin sool, and held boards for the kyok pa (breaking). I got a meaty kick in the hand during the breaking which wasn’t much fun, as well as embarrassing myself. The re-breakable plastic boards (which actually take a much stronger and more accurate strike to break than a piece of pine) can be set to a normal break, or a half break for the kids. I had to try to reset one for a half break so decided to just break it on my knee. WHAM – no break – these things are tougher than I remember! To save any more blushing I give in an extra-strong whack on my knee…. and the same thing happened. Oh dear. Looking back I should’ve just played it like I was showing the guys who’ve never had to break before how tough the boards are, instead of what was probably turning red and laughing. Everyone passed during what was quite a tough grading, and for a while I was a bit disappointed that I wasn’t doing it too. Only for a very short while though, I’m not stupid.

We had a big group lesson afterward with all the guys from Falmouth who came across to grade, which packed the dojang. It’s always good to get everyone together to train though, we did some enjoyable takedown work and in a bit of a break from the norm we did some traditional Korean wrestling. There’re not many times where being one of the biggest guys in the club is an advantage; this was one of them.

All that remains for today is what to get for lunch to take to the park and eat, it’s far too nice to stay in .

Technorati Tags extension, grading, spring, sunshine

The sun’s out big and bright today, and it’s actually really warm. This coupled with the fact that it’s nearly April means that as far as I’m concerned, it’s pretty much summer .

I rose really early this morning and got myself clean, showered and presentable for going back to work for the first time in 6 days. I’ve been sleeping really well lately, I think it’s working hard in training and stuff wearing me out and setting me off nicely. Driving to work this morning was just glorious, I was singing along (like a choir of angels obviously) to an old Blink 182 album I dug out, had the windows down and was feeling good. I’m pretty lucky to be able to say I was having a really good time going to work I guess.

It’s Tang Soo Do again tonight and I think I’m going to pop home at lunchtime and see if I have any deliveries left for me, I’m expecting a few things but mainly my new heavyweight dobok and belt. This new dobok is going to have to last me a long time, so I’m getting a decent one. I’ll have to wait until the end of the week to trim it I think. I’m learning Pyung Ahn Oh Dan now, and it’s by far the hardest form yet I’ve had to do. There are lots of odd little movements and turns, and the jump gets me every time. It’s great though, and now replaces Pyung Ahn Sa Dan and Ee Dan as the most tiring to perform. For the rest of the evening, I’m not sure what I’ll do, I dare say I’ll find something to keep me busy and my hands occupied though – I don’t like being bored.

Now if we can just keep that sun up there burning hot and bright for the next oooooh, 5 months or so, that’d be great. Does anyone have a magic wand?

I’ll leave you with a couple of songs today (I know, I spoil you). Firstly is the first song I think about when I think of summer, and I love screaming along to it on a sunny evening, driving nowhere in particular. I defy you to scream along to the chorus, I love the continual guitar riff in the final section too.

Lost Prophets – Last Summer

And this was the main track for the ride in this morning, I love the whole album.

Blink 182 – Going Away To College

Technorati Tags blink 182, lost prophets, pyung ahn oh dan, summer, sunshine

It’s begun to get noticeably lighter around here. I’m not talking about my desk at work, but in general. Yesterday I heard the answerphone switch on at 5 which activates a Pavlov-like response in me where I stand and gather my essentials before heading home. As I looked around the office though I realised something was different – there was sunshine on the blinds! (I initially mis-typed ‘blonds’ there, I think it’s safe to say it’s more blinds than blonds here – *sigh*).

Slowly but surely, Winter’s on its way out and Spring is coming. The mornings are getting lighter and not quite so unbearable, reaching for the snooze button on the alarm happens in a faded glow now rather than utter darkness. At lunchtimes I’ve found myself driving to the shops with the windows down on sunny days, and I’ve already managed to find some ‘Summer Songs’. Summer Songs for me are those songs which, if their playing coincides with a warm sunny day and a good mood, are uplifting. In fact this year may have to be the year when I take the time to collate them all and make an album to have me beaming from ear to ear for hours at a time.

As if that wasn’t good enough, the fancy tea and muffin fairy visited today, along with a Hokusai to make me smile – someone knows what I like. It’s officially over half-way through the week now too. I guess you could say I’m having a ‘glass is half full’ kinda day. Whether you’re decorating the steps of a local park with the contents of your stomach, or celebrating the purchase of the most expensive dirt you ever bought today, I hope your day is a bright one.

As I was explaining to someone, I was trying to find the perfect song to end this post on, but I couldn’t decide, so here are two. I’m too good to you!

I Was A Cub Scout – Pink Squares

and….

Carter USM – The Only Living Boy In New Cross

Technorati Tags Carter USM, I was a cub scout, Optimism, sunshine